>> ^ZappaDanMan:

Romain Grosjean has been given a one race suspension for causing the first-lap collision at the Belgian Grand Prix, and also imposed a €50,000 fine.


I personally don't get what a penalty like that is supposed to accomplish, you mean next time when he's wheel to wheel with someone he should just yield the position without trying?

I mean, he fucked up, but this kind of crap happens all the time further back in the line, and people don't get suspended from the next race for it. I guess the standard now is if you knock out a star like Alonso or Hamilton you face a much stiffer penalty than if you knock out Timo Glock or Heikki Kovalienen.

I guess it's a much bigger safety risk if you endanger the FIA's bottom line than it is if you endanger someone's life by being stupid...

http://videosift.com/video/F1-Belgium-Grand-Prix-First-Crash-on-Corner .. also qualifies ('turn five')

Your video, F1 Belgium Grand Prix: First Crash on Corner, has made it into the Top 15 New Videos listing. Congratulations on your achievement. For your contribution you have been awarded 1 Power Point.

>> ^Deano:

I wonder if they'll pre-empt a possible decapitation and start fitting a wide rollbar over the heads of the drivers? Don't know how structurally strong that would be but something similar perhaps?


Yeah they've been testing designs like fighter pilot style shield/bubble, over the top of the drivers cockpit:

http://player.vimeo.com/video/26098946?autoplay=1

In terms of safety it would bring some benefits, because the driver would be protected but what happens when you have to rescue the drivers?

They've talked about it, and the FIA has done some tests, but there are down-sides to all their current proposals and nothing is likely to happen soon.
>> ^Deano:

I wonder if they'll pre-empt a possible decapitation and start fitting a wide rollbar over the heads of the drivers? Don't know how structurally strong that would be but something similar perhaps?

Yea I see something similar in Little Egypt near where I live. Belgium is known for their failed ultra liberal policies, and my first instinct tells me this is yet another example. But I should watch the whole documentary if I were to make that claim.

It should be stated that Brussels is an entirely different culture from the rest of Belgium. Brussels is surrounded by Flanders, where they all speak Dutch, but once you go into Brussels, it really is a different culture (not only ethnically, but also linguistically - French is spoken in Brussels instead of Dutch). Brussels has very large Moroccan and Turkish populations (~26%), which are machismo cultures on steroids.

Funny timing - I just got home yesterday from ~3 weeks in Europe, including Belgium, and the Somme & Normandy coast.
In reply to this comment by lucky760:
*promote
Lest @<a rel="nofollow" href="http://videosift.com/member/SlipperyPete" title="member since October 29th, 2006" class="profilelink">SlipperyPete forget.

Reminds me of barbecues in Belgium. Actually, because of the rain we once moved the grill to a garage, which belonged to my friend, but for some reason is underneath his neighbor's house. Anyway, the neighbor came home and just saw some smoke coming out of the garage and assumed her house was on fire. Oops.

>> ^Yogi:

>> ^Reefie:
Improv Everywhere just got upstaged big time!
@Yogi Just the French portion of the Belgians then? Nothing to say about the considerable Dutch and German speaking segments of Belgium then?
There's a reason Belgium is central to European politics. Anyhow, I just wanted to pull you up about your racist comment and point out that French-speaking Belgians only account for a portion of overal Belgian society

Fine, how about I called them "Miserable Fat Belgian Bastards!"


You are in good company sir and/or madam!

>> ^messenger:

Awesome, but not upvoting before Caine's Arcade makes #1.


Children are miserable fat american bastards!

>> ^oritteropo:

blocked in AU (so how did @spoco2 watch it?)


Just because I'm so boss

>> ^Reefie:

Improv Everywhere just got upstaged big time!
@Yogi Just the French portion of the Belgians then? Nothing to say about the considerable Dutch and German speaking segments of Belgium then?
There's a reason Belgium is central to European politics. Anyhow, I just wanted to pull you up about your racist comment and point out that French-speaking Belgians only account for a portion of overal Belgian society


Fine, how about I called them "Miserable Fat Belgian Bastards!"

Improv Everywhere just got upstaged big time!

@Yogi Just the French portion of the Belgians then? Nothing to say about the considerable Dutch and German speaking segments of Belgium then?

There's a reason Belgium is central to European politics. Anyhow, I just wanted to pull you up about your racist comment and point out that French-speaking Belgians only account for a portion of overal Belgian society